Tyre brands: Premium, Mid-Range or Budget?

There are hundreds of tyre brands on the market, from the big six brands (Continental, Pirelli, Goodyear, Dunlop, Michelin and Bridgestone); to mid-range players such as Firestone and Laufenn; to budget alternatives that are a little less pricey.

But does it really make any difference which brand you buy? Well, as with most things in life, the phrase ‘you get what you pay for’ also applies to tyres. Read our quick round-up of the key differences to help you decide which brand is right for you.

Premium – the knowledge, expertise, money and time the premium players invest in optimising their tyres for the needs of a specific vehicle are what give these tyres their status. It takes around three years to develop a new tyre type and perfect it.

Mid-range – mid-range tyres sit in the middle of the marketplace: they offer more in the way of performance and wear than budget brands, but use similar technology to the premium brands, just made with less high quality materials to reduce the price.

Budget – tread patterns cannot be patented, so budget brands often mimic the styling and pattern of new premium tyres within about three months. They may look similar, but the compounds and quality of rubber used are very different, dramatically affecting stopping distances and the overall lifespan of the tyre.